Helen Thomas: Should she have just kept her thoughts about Israel quiet?

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June 7, 2010

Longtime White House correspondent and columnist Helen Thomas has kicked off quite a storm of criticism after her controversial response to a question for comments on Israel.

On May 27 an interviewer from RabbiLive.com asked Ms. Thomas during a Jewish Heritage Celebration at the White House, “Any comments on Israel? We’re asking everybody today.” She replied, “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.”

When the interviewer asked, “Where should they go?,” she said they should “go home” to Poland, Germany, the United States “and everywhere else.”

Thomas posted an apology for her comments on her own website. The comments, she said "do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon."

What do you think? Thomas is an opinion writer, she shared her opinion. But this is an extremely sensitive subject. Would it be better if an offensive statement like this is left unspoken? Is there anything productive that can come from this? The Anti-Defamation League says this apology didn't go far enough. Is a fuller apology needed?